Scarlett Johansson's 'Ghost in the Shell' reportedly tested effects to make actors look more Asian

Scarlett Johansson as Major Motoko Kusanagi in "Ghost
in the Shell."Paramount

In the wake of the controversial choice to cast Scarlett
Johansson as the lead of the Hollywood adaptation of the Japanese
anime franchise “Ghost in the Shell,” ScreenCrush reports that producers of the
film tested digital visual effects that would make actors look
more Asian.

According to a source in the story, producers immediately
rejected the idea after tests were completed, but the news is the
latest example of Hollywood “whitewashing” — casting white actors
in non-white roles — that has been getting a spotlight in
recent years.

Last year, Emma Stone was cast as a
half-Chinese/half-Hawaiian woman in “Aloha,” Rooney Mara was cast
as a Native American in “Pan,” and most of the stars in “Gods of
Egypt” were Caucasian.

In the famous 1995 anime film "Ghost in the Shell," Motoko
Kusanagi is a part-cyborg policewoman. Johansson is taking the
role in the new movie coming out in 2017.

ScreenCrush reports that several sources say tests were done on
Johansson herself to make her look more Asian. But Paramount in a
statement to the site, while confirming a test, says it was only
on a background actor.

"No visual effects tests were conducted on Scarlett’s
character and we have no future plans to do so," the studio
said.

Major Motoko Kusanagi in an animated version of "Ghost
in the Shell."Production
I.G

Regardless of the subject of the VFX tests, what’s more
disturbing is that Asian actors are frequently not cast in these
roles.

Following the report by ScreenCrush, screenwriter Max Landis took to YouTube to give his two cents on the issue.

“The only reason to be upset about Scarlett Johansson being in
‘Ghost in the Shell’ is if you don’t know how the movie industry
works,” he said in the video, pointing out that “there are no
A-list female Asian celebrities.”

“It’s infuriating,” Landis added. “There used to be, in the ‘90s,
diversity in our A-list actors. Jackie Chan and Jet Li were
famous at the same time, they could both get movies made. We
don’t have that guy any more, we don’t even have Lucy Liu any
more.”

Landis argues the only reason "Ghost in the Shell" in its
Hollywood form is being made is because a bankable star like
Johansson is in the lead.

Paramount has not yet replied to a request for comment from
Business Insider.